Investigation into the control of melittin secondary structure and antimicrobial activity

Molinets, Zachary B. M. S., Purdue University, August 2014. Investigation Into the Control of Melittin Secondary Structure and Antimicrobial Activity. Major Professor: Jean A. Chmielewski. Antimicrobial resistance has been an exponentially growing problem since the discovery of antibiotics. Antibiotics have been misused for many years and this misuse has grown into a real problem for the medical community. While there are countless safeguards to prevent infection by a resistant strain of bacteria, there are still many plagued by it and must be treated with sometimes dangerous antibiotics. Melittin, along with many other peptides, contain potent antimicrobial properties, but are also toxic toward enthrocytes. The control of the secondary structure of peptides provides the key to adjusting their activity.